All of us know how important it is to be able to communicate with our partners effectively.
A remarriage and step family is no different.
That is why area #5 in step-family preparation is to strengthen your relationship skills - mostly focusing on communication and conflict resolution skills.
"Improving communication skills" has almost become a cliché in the media when discussing marriage and marriage therapists.
There is some truth in the cliché though.
Research shows that the number one indicator of marriage success is in the couple's ability to communicate well with one another.
These skills are the same for any couple.
The stakes are higher with a remarriage though.
Poor communication or conflict resolution skills may have contributed to the demise of your first marriage.
We are creatures of habit and will resort to what we know if we don't make a concerted effort to learn to be more effective.
You and your children have already gone through the pain of a marriage breaking up.
Do you want to take that risk again? Because there are so many more players involved in a step-family, good communication skills are a must! Not only do you need to be able to communicate effectively with your spouse, but also your ex, your children, and your step-children to name just a few.
Conflict resolution skills will help in dealing with the many negotiations that will take place in your remarriage.
Be prepared to be frustrated.
Expect that everyone will have differing opinions a lot of the time.
Having these skills strongly in place is necessary to solve these daily dilemmas.